Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William, "are extremely moved" by the global response to her cancer diagnosis, Kensington Palace said in a statement on behalf of the couple, and reiterated their plea for privacy right now.
The princess, also known as Kate Middleton, announced last week that she had been diagnosed after the abdominal surgery in January that prompted her highly-scrutinized disappearance from public life.
"The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness' message," said a spokesperson for the palace on Saturday night. "They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time."
The palace will not be releasing additional updates about Princess Kate this weekend, the statement added.
"We are of course happy to take technical questions but noting the need to give the family space and privacy at this time," the spokesperson said.
Public figures across the globe have spoken out to voice support for the princess in the wake of the announcement. So have various members of the royal family, including King Charles III, who said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace that he was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did," and has remained in the "closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law" in recent weeks, the Associated Press reported. The king and Queen Camilla "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time," the palace said in that statement, according to the AP.
Prince Harry and Meghan also shared a statement responding to Kate's diagnosis.
"We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace," the statement said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement Kate had the "love and support of the whole country," and Kate's video post on Instagram has nearly 5 million likes.
Social media and tabloid headlines had been awash in rumors and conspiracy theories about Kate's whereabouts since the palace announced in January that she would be absent from royal duties, including public appearances, for several months while she recovered from a planned abdominal surgery.
The news that King Charles was undergoing cancer treatment exacerbated an already swirling online frenzy about the princess' health when it came to light in early February, but the rumors reached a fever pitch last week, when an image of Kate with her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, was found to have been digitally altered before being released on Mother's Day in the U.K. Kate later apologized and said she had edited the photo after the palace had refused to release an original.
Amidst swirling controversies and wild speculations about her health, Kate made a surprising revelation by disclosing her cancer diagnosis in a heartfelt video message. The video was recorded at her family's residence in Windsor and made public two days later. Although she did not disclose the specific type of cancer she is battling, Kate mentioned that she had recently commenced a preventative chemotherapy treatment, mirroring the king's approach to health issues.
Earlier this year, the princess underwent a significant abdominal surgery for a condition initially believed to be non-cancerous. Following the surgery, further tests uncovered the presence of cancer. In her video message, Kate expressed her shock at the diagnosis and highlighted the efforts she and William have made to handle the situation discreetly for the sake of their young children.
"The news was incredibly jolting, and William and I have been navigating this journey in privacy to shield our children from unnecessary worry," she shared. "Recovery from the surgery was a gradual process, paving the way for the commencement of my treatment. Above all, we took the necessary time to explain the situation to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a manner suitable for their understanding, reassuring them that I will be alright."
